Centrifugal pump.



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lGENTRIPUGAL'PUMP.' APPLIOA'l-ION FILED MAB. 24, 1903.

N0v MODEL.

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No. 745,181. PATBNTED Nov. 24, 190s.

'5; G. HARRIS.v GBNTRIPUGAL PUMP.

I APPLICATION FILED MAE. 24, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR THE NHIS PETERS CO., PNOTOJJTNO., WASNXNGTON, D. C.,

N0 MODEL'.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented November 24, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

cENTRl'FueAL PUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,181, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed March Z4, 1903. Serial No. 149.256. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, ELMO G. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Pumps, of which t e following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partthereof.

My invention relates to improvements in centrifugal pumps; and it consists in novel means employed for adjusting a pump to discharge varying quantities while maintaining a constant speed of revolution, .in novel means for transforming the kinetic energy or energy of vmotion of the water as it is discharged from the propeller-wheel into energy of pressure with the least possible loss, and in novel means for supporting or partially supporting the propeller-wheel upon air under pressure.

The main objects of my invention are to provide for varying the discharge otherwise than by varying the speed of the pump, to economically operate centrifugal pumps when delivering water in quantities less than the maximum discharge provided for, to effectively utilize the kinetic energy or energy of motion of the water as it discharges from the propeller-wheel, and to reduce the friction of certain running parts.

My invention further consists in certain novel details of construction and combination of parts, as set forth in the following specification, and other advantages will appear hereinafter.

l will now proceed to describe a centrifugal pump embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a horizontal section of a centrifugal pump embodying my invention, the section being taken upon the plane of the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows a vertical section thereof, taken on the plane of the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a detail vertical transverse section taken upon an enlarged scale, showing a portion of the casing, a portion of one of the deflectingvanes, and a portion of the operating-ring. Fig. 4 shows an enlarged detail view of one of the delecting-vanes removed. Fig. 5 is a top View of a portion of the casing forming the housing of the operating-ring, the operating-ring, and means for adjusting the position of said operating-ring. Fig. G is a View on a small scale, showing a duplex pump arranged to receive water upon both sides of the propeller-wheel and having deiiectingvaries in accordance with my invention.

The centrifugal pump herein illustrated and with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings comprises a casing l, having an intake 2, a propeller-wheel chamber 3, and a discharge-chamber or vortex-space 4, and a propeller-wheel 5, suitably mounted upon a vertical shaft 6. The casing is provided With and suitably supports a pluralityof deiiecting-vanes 7, pivotally mounted at 8 and circumferentially disposed around the The pivotal supports 8y The passages 9, formed passages not only iiare outwardly in the plane of rotation of the wheel by reason of the configuration of the dellecting-vanes,` but also preferably in planes at right angles thereto by reason of the tapering or rounding off of the portions of the casing forming the lower walls of such discharge-openings. The object of making these discharge-open-` ings to flare outwardly is to transform the kinetic energy or energy of motion of the water as it leaves the propeller-wheel into energy of pressure as the water is discharged into the discharge-chamber or vortex-space, so as to make such energy available. ing-vanes, which were before described as being pivoted at 8, are normally held stationary by pins 10, secured to an operating-ring 11 and projecting into slots 12 in the said vanes. a suitable housing 13, forming a portion of the pump casing. in the housing, so as to have a limited circumferential movement, and means are pro- The deflect- The ring 11 is mounted,

The operating-ring 11 is mounted in IOC vided for imparting such circumferential movement in a gear-sector 14, which engages teeth of the said ring 11. The gear-sector 14 is secured to an operating-shaft 16, which projects through the casing to the exterior thereof and to which portion, exterior of the casing, a suitable lever, hand-wheel, or the like may be secured. The slots 12 in the deflecting-vanes 7 are so arranged that when the said ring is caused to move directly around its axis for the limited distance permitted the vanes will be adjusted inward and outward in accordance with which direction the ring is moved. By this means all the deiiecting-vanesmay -be simultaneously adjusted from a point exterior of the casing. The adjustment of the vanes will vary the cross-sectional area of the dischargep passages 9, and such adjustment will control the quantity of water of the discharge, while maintaining a constant speed of rotation of the propeller-wheel. This is very desirable, for in many instances the required lift of the pump may be nearly constant, while the quantity of water to be delivered will vary. To vary the quantity of water delivered by varying the speed of the pump would be wasteful of energy, for it must be borne in mind that the lift varies with the square of speed, while the quantity varies with the speed when not otherwise adjustable. In order to get the best efficiency, a pump should be run at a speed just sufficient to maintain the discharge against the lift. In my invention I may run the pump uniformly at such speed while adjusting the crosssectional area of the discharge-passages to vary the quantity of water delivered.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a pump similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except thatIhave shown the casing as having two intakes 2 2 and the propeller-wheel 5 as adapted to receive and discharge water on both sides thereof. In this form of pump the propeller-wheel 5 may conveniently be mounted upon a shaft disposed horizontally. In the form of pump shown in Fig. 6 the pressure or thrust in a line with the axis of rotation of the propellerwheel is practically balanced; but the thrust or downward pressure of a propeller-wheel mounted upon a vertical shaft, such as shown in the first gures of the drawings, is usually very considerable and the friction caused thereby sufficient to absorb considerable power and produce much wear upon the bearings. Ihave therefore provided means for resisting this downward tendency of the propeller-wheel and its shaft by connecting the discharge with the propeller-wheel chamber 3 beneath the propeller-wheel and including in such connection a hydraulic inspirator 17. The hydraulic inspirator 17 is operated by the force or pressure of water in the discharge and will suck in air from the outside atmosphere and deliver it into the chamber 3. In

this connection it will be remembered that the pressure in the chamber Li and in the discharge will be largely in excess of that in the chamber 3. In fact, it will normally be about twice as great. The propeller-wheel is provided with a depending flange 18 at its outer periphery, and the inspirator 17 is arranged to discharge under the inverted cup thus formed. Vater will of course be injected into the chamber 3, as well as air 3 but when the water in the chamber has risen to a point at substantially the level of the lower edge of the ange 18 the pressure of the air confined between the said body of water and the under face oi' the major portion of the propellerwheel will force excess of water out through the space 2O between the outer periphery of the propeller-wheel and the inner edge of the casing opposite thereto. A certain quantity of air will, however, always be maintained locked or sealed between the upper surface of the water in the chamber 3 and the lower face of the propeller-wheel 5, and because of the pressure under which such air is maintained the propeller-wheel will practically be resting and turning upon air. By this means the downward thrust of the wheel and its shaft may be partially or in some cases may be totally resisted.

I have shown a pipe 21 connecting with the interior of the chamber 3, so that the said chamber lnay be flushed and drained when desired. In the normal running of this pump it will of course be understood that the pipe 21 is closed against discharge.

It will be apparent that the machine herein described can be used as a water-motor (turbine water-wheel) without change, except that the direction of How of water will be reversed, and that in so operating it the rotating wheel may be partially or entirely supported upon air in the same manner as -Idescribed for the apparatus when used asa pump. It will also be understood that air may be carried into the chamber 3 by other means than that speciically described and shown herein-such, for instance, as by means of an ordinary air-pump or by such means as is shown and described in my previous patent, No. 716,096. Hence I do not desire to be limited only to hydraulic inspiration, nor do I desire to be limited only to the precise details of construction and combination of the parts herein shown in so far as not only this feature is concerned, but in so far as the rest of the apparatus is concerned, as the same obviously may be varied within wide limits without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and it is further obvious that certain parts of my invention are capable of use with other parts of different construction than herein shown and described.

What I claim is- 1. In a pump, the combination with a propeller-wheel, of a casing having a plurality of discharge-passages circumferentially disposed around the wheel and adjustable as to their cross-sectional area.

2. In a pump, the combination with a propeller-wheel, of a casing having a plurality of outwardly-darin g discharge-passages circumferentially disposed around the wheel and adjustable as to their cross-sectional area.

3. In a pump, the combination with a propeller-wheel, of a casing having a plurality of discharge-passages circumferentially disposed around the wheel, and means for varying the cross-sectional area of the dischargepassages.

Il. In a pump, the combination with a propeller-wheel, of a casing having a plurality of outwardly-darin g discharge-passages circumferentially disposed around the wheel, and means for varying the cross-sectional area of the discharge-passages.

5. In a pump, the combination with a propeller-wheel, and a suitable support therefor, of a plurality of adjustable deiecting-vanes circumferentialiy disposed around the propeller-wheel.

6. In a pump, the combination with a propeller-Wheel, and a suitable support therefor, of a plurality of adjustable deflecting-vanes circumferentially disposed around the propeller-Wheel, and means for adjusting the said deiiecting-vanes.

7. In a pump, the combination with a propeller-wheel, and a suitable support therefor, of a plurality of adjustable deflecting-vanes vcircumferentially disposed around the propeller-Wheel, and means for adjusting all the said vanes simultaneously.

8. In a pump, the combination with an inclosing casing, and a propeller-wheel therein, of a plurality of adjustable defiecting-vanes circumferentially disposed around said propeller-wheel Within said casing, and means for adjusting` the said vanes.

9. In a pump, the combination with an inclosing casing, and a propeller-wheel therein, of a plurality of adjustabledeflecting-vanes circumferentially disposed around said propeller-Wheel Within said casing, and means for adjusting the said-vanes from a point exterior of the casing.

10. In a pump, the combinationwith an. inclosing casing, and a propeller-Wheel therein, of a plurality of adjustable deflecting-vanes circumferentially disposed around said propeller-Wheel within said casing, and means for adjusting all thevanes simultaneously from a point exterior of the casing.

11. In a pump, the combination with an inclosing casing having a circumferential vorteX space or discharge-chamber', and a propeller-wheel located within said casing, of a plurality of dei'lecting vanes circumferenltially disposed around said propeller-Wheel Within said casing, and between said propeller-wheel and said vortex space, and means for adjusting said deflecting-vanes.

12. In a pump, the combination with a propeller-Wheel, of an inclosing casing Within which said propeller-Wheel is mounted, said casing having a vortex space or dischargechamber circumferentially disposed around said propeller-wheel, and having a plurality of discharge-passages located between the said vortex space and the said wheel, and means for varying the cross-sectional area of said discharge-passages.

13. In a pump, the combination with a propeller-wheel, of an inclosing casing within which said propeller-wheel is mounted, 'said casing having a vortex space or dischargechamber circumferentially disposed around said propeller-wheel, and having a plurality of outwardly-Haring discharge-passages located between the said vortex space and the said wheel, and means for varying the crosssectional area of said discharge--pmsages 14. In a pump, the combination with a propeller-wheel, and a-casing, of a plurality of adjustable d eiiectin g-vanes circumferentially disposed within said casing around said propeller-Wh eel, an operating-ring engaging said dcfiecting-vanes, and means for adj usi ing the position of said operating-ring.

15. In a pump, the combination With a propeller-Wheel, and a casing, of a plurality of adjustable deflecting-vanes circumferentially disposed within said casing around said propeller-wheel and pivoted to said casing at points in close proximity to the periphery of said propeller-Wheel, and means for adjusting said vanes around their respective pivots.

16. In a pump, the combination with a propeller-wheel, and a casing within which said propeller-wheel is mounted, of a plurality of adjustable deflecting-vanes -7 circumferentially disposed around said propeller-Wheel within, said casing, an operating-ring 11 engaging said deflecting-vanes, and a toothed sector 14 engaging the teeth of said operatingring, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In a pump, the combination with a casing having a propeller-chamber and a discharge-chamber, of a propeller-wheel mounted to revolve in said propeller-chamber, said pump having means for introducing Water and air into said propeller-chamber and for maintaining the air under pressure between the rear of the propeller-Wheel and a body of the water sol introduced.

18. In a pump,the combination With a casing having a propeller-chamber and a discharge-chamber, of a propeller-wheel mounted to revolvein a horizontal plane in said propeller-chamber, said pump having means for introducing Water and air into the said propeller-chamber beneath the said propeller- Wheel and for maintaining the air under pressure between the rear of the propeller- Wheel and a body of the water so introduced, to resist downward pressure of the said propeller-wheel.

19. In a pump, the combination with a casing having a propeller-chamber and a discharge-chamber, .of a propeller-wheel mounted to revolve in a horizontal plane in said propeller-chamber, said propeller-Wheel having a dependent circumferential flange; and means for introducing water and air under ICO IIO

pressure into the propeller-Wheel chamber beneath said propeller-Wheel.

20. In a pump, the combination with a casing having a propeller-chamber and a discharge-chamber, of a propeller-Wheel mounted to revolve in said propeller-chamber, and a hydraulic inspirator connecting said discharge-ch amber With the said propeller-ch ainber at the rear of said propeller-Wheel.

21. In a pump, the combination with a casing having a propeller-chamber and a discharge-chamber, of a propellerwheel mounted to revolve in said propellenchalnber, and a hydraulic inspirator connected to the said dischargechaniber and its discharge-pipe connected to the said 1: ropeller-cha1nber, said inspirator adapted and arranged to discharge air into said propeller-chamber at the rear of said propeller-whcel- 22. In a pump, the combination with a casing having a propeller-chamber and a discharge-chamber7 of a propeller-wheel mounted to revolve in a horizontal plane in said propeller-chamber, said propeller-wheel having adependent circumferential iange 5 and a hydraulic inspirator connected to said discharge-chamber, and adapted and arranged to discharge air into said propeller-chamber beneath said .propeller-Wheel.

28. In a pump, the combination with a casing having a propeller-chamber and a dis charge-chamber, of a propeller-Wheel 5 having a dependent circumferential flange 18; and a hydraulic inspirator 17, connected with the said dischargechamber, and arranged to discharge air through a discharge 19 into said propellerchamber and beneath said propeller-wheel, substantially as and i'or the purpose set forth.

ELMO G. HARRIS.

Witnesses P. S. MIssIMER, EDWIN B. LEWIS. 

